Slow down, grab the wall

Because Hampton is such a good boy, and so easy to train, he often tries to do things even though I am not riding correctly. Some of my bad riding has started to show up in a couple of specific movements - the half passes and the flying changes.

Being a very good boy on Thanksgiving

A few weeks ago Hampton started to go rein lame just during half passes at the trot. I then worried myself half sick and thought I had ruined my horse. He also had a visit from the chiro and had some significant problems in his lower back and SI joint. For my lesson today I asked if L could take a look at the half pass and see if it was something I was doing to cause the rein lameness, or if she thought Hampton was, in fact, actually LAME. (He has not been lame going straight or on the lunge or even on a tight circle).

She immediately pointed out that I was riding TOO MUCH angle and poor Hampton was trying to be obedient but it's just not physically possibly for him to cross over that much - therefore, he became uneven, or rein lame.

Excooooze me, someone please tell my rider she is incompetent.

She gave me a few excellent exercises to help me focus on just riding the shoulders - and then gently moving the haunches over. BAM - super half pass. The rein lameness VANISHED. I am sure Hampton was thinking "It's about damn time someone told you how to do this, idiot." I was of course relieved that it's not a physical problem, but just a bad rider problem.

We also worked on flying changes. I will tell you that they have gotten significantly better and L promises me that by spring they will be reliable. (Right now I don't see the light). Any and every problem one can have while teaching the changes, we have had. Changing late behind. Changing behind but not in front. Not changing at all. Bucking. Leaping. Getting amped up about it. Throwing temper tantrums and anticipating changing. ALL of this has happened to me.

Can you spot the other bad habit I have in lateral work?
Yup - collapsing my whole left side. I have collapsed to much that my shirt fell down.

But at this point if I set up Hampton for success and properly time my aids, we get a wonderful clean change. But A LOT of the time, I just miss the timing and then Hampton is all like "Shit you want me to change .. legs are tangled ... oh shit ...." and then one of the above problems occurs. So I really need to make sure we are both set up for success and NOT to try changes when we are a clusterf*ck. He knows the aids and really tries to be obedient. The changes are much improved from even a month or two ago, but not show ring ready I am afraid. That is ok though - that's what winter is for. :)

So while I really enjoy posting about how awesome my horse is - I do want everyone to know it is not all sunshine and rainbows. This journey is very difficult and can be quite frustrating. But keep on keeping on, I suppose. And eventually you see the light.

I think.